biostudies-literatureSu QJiangsu Provincial International Joint Laboratory of Optic/Electronic/Magnetic Functional Materials and SensorsNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaQing Lan Project of Yangzhou University and Jiangsu ProvinceNatural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Provincee05944https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12376629biostudies-literatureUnknown12(30)Enhancing interfacial evaporation rates and optimizing energy utilization remain critical challenges in solar-driven steam generation. Natural fiber@MXene-engineered chitosan aerogels with hierarchically oriented channels to achieve high-efficiency solar-driven steam generation are developed. The kapok fiber@MXene core-shell units (MKFs) construct photon-entrapping topological networks that enhance light absorption while simultaneously reinforcing the aerogel's structural integrity and durability for practical applications. The aerogel's oriented microchannels establish thermodynamic potential gradients, facilitating spontaneous capillary-driven water replenishment and environmental thermal harvesting. Both experimental results and COMSOL multiphysics simulations systematically demonstrate that hierarchical pore channels enhance water transport, improve solar-thermal/environmental energy synergy, and promote the downward diffusion of concentrated ions from the evaporation surface, achieving an evaporation rate up to 4.40 kg m^-2 h^-1 with efficient salt rejection. Long-term outdoor tests with various corrosive wastewater solutions further validate the aerogel's durability in solar-driven interfacial evaporation. This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the interrelation between solar energy absorption, water transport, and salt diffusion in aerogel evaporators with hierarchical fiber-pore architectures.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)Natural Fiber@MXene-Engineered Chitosan Aerogels: Thermodynamic-Transport Synergy for Solar-Driven Hypersaline Interfacial Evaporation.PMC1237662952473049BK20240934Ye LLu LTang LSu QFeng YGu WHuang XGao JPan BHou SXue HWu HfalseNatural Fiber@MXene-Engineered Chitosan Aerogels: Thermodynamic-Transport Synergy for Solar-Driven Hypersaline Interfacial Evaporation.Enhancing interfacial evaporation rates and optimizing energy utilization remain critical challenges in solar-driven steam generation. Natural fiber@MXene-engineered chitosan aerogels with hierarchically oriented channels to achieve high-efficiency solar-driven steam generation are developed. The kapok fiber@MXene core-shell units (MKFs) construct photon-entrapping topological networks that enhance light absorption while simultaneously reinforcing the aerogel's structural integrity and durability for practical applications. The aerogel's oriented microchannels establish thermodynamic potential gradients, facilitating spontaneous capillary-driven water replenishment and environmental thermal harvesting. Both experimental results and COMSOL multiphysics simulations systematically demonstrate that hierarchical pore channels enhance water transport, improve solar-thermal/environmental energy synergy, and promote the downward diffusion of concentrated ions from the evaporation surface, achieving an evaporation rate up to 4.40 kg m^-2 h^-1 with efficient salt rejection. Long-term outdoor tests with various corrosive wastewater solutions further validate the aerogel's durability in solar-driven interfacial evaporation. This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the interrelation between solar energy absorption, water transport, and salt diffusion in aerogel evaporators with hierarchical fiber-pore architectures.2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-05-09T19:10:36.379Z2026-04-08T01:10:51.395ZS-EPMC123766294039181910.1002/advs.202505944